Page 117 of Shadow's Surrender
“I don’t need your fuckin’ money.”
Her upper lip curled in disdain. “Everyonecan be bought.” She lifted her hand and two gold bracelets jangled as she smoothed her hair.
Then a quick tiny glimmer drew his attention to her throat and the necklace that fell just at her collarbone. His heart pounded in his ears as the image of his mother wearing the silver necklace with the red coral and turquoise pendant burned in his brain. He’d given it to his mother and it was the one thing that couldn’t be located after her murder. And now Pamela Mansfield had his mother’s prized possession aroundherneck.
“Where the fuck did you getthat?” he growled, stalking toward her.
“Where thefuckdo you think?” A smug smile twisted her lips. “Don’t come any closer.” Scarlett’s mother reached into her purse, took out a gun, and pointed it at him.
Rooted to the spot, his gaze took in the .22 caliber, then cut to the bangles on her arm. “Flo’s, I’m guessing.” It felt like cotton was stuffed into his mouth, but he wouldn’t let this bitch know she’d thrown him for a major loop.Scarlett’s mom murdered Ma? Is she covering up for her husband? Huntington. Are they fucking each other. Dammit. I didn’t expect this.He moved his arm, reaching slowly behind him for his .38 special.
“Keep your hands where I can see them,” she ordered.
“Who gave you that necklace?”
“Your mother—well, technically she didn’tgiveit to me. I took it.” A broad smile cracked her face.
A guttural growl vibrated in the back of his throat.
“This entire situation is distasteful and ironic. I thought I was done with your family when I punished your mother for fucking my husband, but now you’re humping my daughter. You’re just like your white-trash mother.”
Scarlett’s dad was my mom’s sugar daddy? What the fuck?
“You’re too proud, too macho to even blink an eye, but you must be exploding inside. My husband is like all men—a dirty, vile pig. Since he makes my skin crawl, I looked the other way when he sought physical enjoyment with other women. It worked between us—I kept a good home, raised the children, and did all the social things a wealthy wife is supposed to do. He provided very well for me all these years. Then he met your mother at that strip club she worked at. I never thought that would be a problem, but the stupid old fart fell in love with her.” Pamela laughed heartily.
“You’re a fuckin’ bitch,” he grunted.
“And you’re going to join your slutty mother. She was taking my husband away from me. What woman goes out with a married man who has three children? She was breaking up our home.”
“Your respectable husband told her he was getting a divorce. I knew something was up with him. I should’ve taken care of it long ago.”
“But you didn’t, so I had to step in. I didn’t want to be the divorced woman in town who everyone pitied and spoke about in hushed voices behind my back. Your mother was a threat to my marriage, my way of life … mysurvival. I had no choice—it was either her or me. You should know about that. You’re in that criminal club. I’m sure you’ve killed for survival.” Another dry laugh. “You see … you and I are not all that different.”
Shadow forced himself to stay where he was rather than to rush the bitch. He had no doubt that she knew how to use the gun in her hands. And with the short distance between them, being shot by a .22 could kill him, or do some serious damage.
“Doesheknow you murdered my mom?”I wanna wrap my hands around her fuckin’ neck and squeeze the life outta her. She needs to suffer like Ma did.
“No. The only one who knew was that nosy and greedy friend of hers—Flo. She came by to talk to your mom that night and caught me leaving the apartment covered in blood. I should’ve killed her right then and there, but I panicked and fled.” She shook her head. “A stupid mistake that cost me millions and a lot of unnecessary stress. And she kept getting greedier.”
“So you offed her.”
“You have such a way with words.” Another large smile.
Shadow glanced at the glowing numbers on the microwave and realized that Scarlett could be home at any moment. There was no way he could risk this crazy bitch hurting his woman. He’d have to rush her—there was no other option.
“Bruce Huntington told me about your mother and George. I’ll always be indebted to him for that because I doubt if I would’ve ever found out until it was too late. He was taken with your mother, too, but she rebuffed all his advances. Anyway, now you’ve come around and screwed up all the plans I had for Scarlett and Warren. I promised Bruce I would make it happen.”
“So he knew you killed my mom?”
Pamela shrugged. “I never told him, but he may have figured it out. Who knows?” A short pause. “And now it’s your turn. You should’ve stayed away from Scarlett. You’re a good-looking man, and I’m sure your motorcycle and leather jacket gets you plenty of women. You shouldn’t have infiltrated my family.”
Then a series of raps on the door diverted Pamela’s attention for a nanosecond, but it was enough time for Shadow to move to the side and jump over to her. He felt the bullet when it hit. It was like a metal rod tapping the inner side of his left wrist.
“You fuckin’ cunt!” Shadow grabbed the gun and pistol whipped her repeatedly.
Just then, Smokey and Helm broke through the front door—ripping it completely off its frame. The sound of wood cracking and splintering filled Shadow’s ears, but his rage boiled over and he kept beating his mother’s killer over and over again, his arms still flailing after Smokey and Helm pulled him away.
“She killed my mother. That fuckin’ bitch destroyed my mother’s life. My life! I’m gonna make her pay!”
